Massaging device



Aug. 8, 1939. D. CLARKE MASSAGING DEVICE Filed June 4, 1937 2Sheets-Sheet l 3 woe/Wm 7 5's Jarrz 022i 674 Aug. 8, 1939. v CLARKE 72,168,975

' MASSAGING DEVICE I Filed June 4, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F76. 6; f /4 d,

6 j if I Gimp.

Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is adapted tobe used for massaging or working upon the human back. One object of theinvention is to provide a device of the class described which can befolded into small compass when not in use. Another object of theinvention is to provide novel means whereby the working member, whichengages the back immediately, may be disposed at any desired angle withrespect to the body element which carries the working member. Anotherobject of the invention is to supply a device of the class described inwhich there will be a little or nothing to catch upon the garments ofthe wearers, when the device is in use.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and toenhance the utility of devices of that type to which the presentinvention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it

being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the inventionherein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in perspective, a device constructed in accordance with theinvention, in a position of use;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevation with parts in section, the view showing theworking member and its mounting on the body of the device;

Fig. 4 is an elevation showing how the article may be folded when not inuse;

Fig. 5 is a plan showing a modification;

Fig. 6 is an elevation relating to the modification disclosed in Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a plan showing the article of Fig. 5 completely folded.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 there is disclosed a body I, in the form of arigid bar. Angle brackets 2 are attached by securing elements 3 to thebody I, near the ends of the body. In the projecting portions of theangle brackets 2, combined clamping and pivot elements 4 are mounted.These pivot elements 4 may be bolts, carrying wing nuts 5.

The ends of rigid handles 6 project between the angle brackets 2, andthe pivot bolts 4 pass through the ends of the handles. The wing nuts 5may be left loose and, then, the handles 6 are mounted for swingingmovement on the angle brackets 2. If desired, however, the wing nuts 5may be tightened, the ends of the handles 6 being clamped between theangle brackets 2 and the 5 handles being held at any desired angles withrespect to the body I. I

The numeral 7 indicates a rigid bridge of U- shape and preferably madeof metal. The intermediate portion of the bridge 1 is connected by a 10clamping and pivot element 8, such as a bolt 8, to the body I at anypoint between the ends of the body, and preferably midway between theends of the body. The head of the bolt 8 is located in a recess 9 formedin the outer surface 15 of the body I. A wing nut I0 is threaded on thebolt 8 and is located within the bridge 1. Because the head of the bolt8 is located in the recess 9, and because the wing nut Iii is locatedwithin the bridge 1, there are no projecting parts 20 to catch on thegarments of the wearer.

By means of securing elements I2, the ends of the bridge I are securedto a working element Ii. The working element II is shown in the form ofa pad, but it might be a wheel or any- 25 thing else, adapted to be usedeither cold, or in a heated condition. It is to be observed that byloosening the wing nut ill, the angle between the working member H andthe body I may be changed as the occasion may require. 30

The device is used as shown in Fig. 1. The working member H, whatever beits form, is placed against the back of the wearer, and the body I ismoved about by means of the handles 6, the working member I l engagingthe back 35 of the patient.

In Figs. 56-7, parts hereinbefore described have been designated bynumerals already used, with the suffix a. In this form of the invention,the .body la is made up of two parts H. To 40 the inner portions of theparts M of the body la, hinge plates l5 are secured. The pivot thatconnects the hinge plates 15 is the bolt 8a. The bolt 8a, therefore, hasa function additional to that described in connection with the bolt 8.45

The device shown in Figs. 5-6-7 of the drawings is operated like thedevice shown in Fig. 1. The wing nut Illa may be loosened and thentightened, thereby enabling the parts I4 to be disposd rigidly at anydesired angle with respect to 50 each other, instead of a straight lineas shown in Fig. 1.

In order to economize space, the handles 6 of Fig. 1 may be folded up inthe same plane with the body I, as shown in Fig. 4. This can be done, 55

also, in connection with the form shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of thedrawings. In addition, the two parts I4 may be folded together in aplane at right angles to the pivot bolt 8a, thereby cutting down thelength of the device about one-half, as compared with the structureshown, for instance, in Fig. 4.

Either of the forms depicted in the drawings is a simple construction,but will be found thoroughly eflicient for the ends in view. They enablea person to work upon his back, and when the occasion for the use of theinstrument has passed, it may be folded to some extent, as shown in Fig.4, or more completely, as shown in Fig. 7.

The rigid handles 6 give the operator better control over the devicethan do flexible handles. It is to be observed, also, that the combinedclamping and pivot elements 8 and 8a enable the working members II andIla, respectively,

to be placed at any desired angle to the parts I' and la on which theyare mounted.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, an elongated rigid body, aworking member, means for attaching the working member to theintermediate portion of the body for adjustment about an axis transverseto the length of the body, rigid handles located at the ends of thebody, and

means for securing the handles to the body for swinging movement in aplane coincident with the body.

2. In a device of the class described, a body comprising cooperatingmembers, hinge plates secured to the inner ends of said members, acombined clamping and pivot element connecting the hinge members, aworking member carried by the pivot element, rigid handles located atthe ends of the body, and means for connecting the handles to the bodyfor swinging movement in a plane parallel to the body, the clamping andpivot element enabling the members of the body to be folded together ina direction at right angles to the axis of the pivot element.

3. In a device of the class described, a rigid body, rigid handleslocated at the ends of the body, means for connecting the handles to thebody for swinging movement in a plane coincident with the body, aworking member located intermediate the ends of the body, a bridgecarried by the working member, and a combined clamping and pivot elementconnected to the intermediate portion of the bridge with theintermediate portion of the body, said member embodying a clampingelement located within the bridge.

DUMONT CLARKE.

